A 19-year-old who walked away from the Henry County Jail in 2007 was taken into custody early Thursday morning and is facing multiple felony charges as well as local charges of aggravated battery, fleeing law enforcement and resisting arrest.

Jake Austin Raye Nicholas, 19, believed to be of the Knightstown area, was taken into custody shortly before 3 a.m. following an investigation and a pursuit that last nearly five hours and involved units from multiple law enforcement agencies in the area.

Nicholas’ most recent troubles began as a result of a lover’s quarrel when he allegedly got into an altercation with an 18-year-old Knightstown youth at a Carthage apartment complex.

Carthage Town Marshal Mike Onkst said Nicholas and Jacob Taylor got into an altercation that resulted in Taylor later seeking medical attention.

“The Taylor individual sustained a serious facial injury and after returning to his home placed a call to the Knightstown Police Department reporting the incident prior to his seeking medical attention,” Onkst said.

During the early stages of the investigation officers became aware of Nicholas’ involvement; mutual aid and K9 units from Shelby, Hancock and Henry Counties were called to assist Onkst and deputies Terry Drake, Randy Chandler and Josh Brinson of the Rush County Sheriff’s Department, along with Rushville Police Department K9 Mundy and handler officer Brandon Reynolds.

Nicholas was able to evade the officers initial attempt to take him into custody and, after ditching the vehicle he was driving, took off on foot.

A foot pursuit ensued that lasted nearly three hours.

In his attempt to evade capture, Nicholas traversed the nearby Big Blue River; the water temperature combined with the sub-freezing temperatures elevated concerns that he might suffer from hypothermia.

RPD officer Reynolds suffered a minor injury when he was inadvertently bit by his police dog during the pursuit as the suspect again eluded officers’ attempts to take him into custody.

He then fled to a nearby residence and hid in a garage. Officers surrounded the outlying building, at which point Nicholas gave up the chase.

After being taken into custody he was transported to Rush Memorial Hospital as a result of injuries he sustained. Following treatment he was transferred to the Rush County Jail where he is being held on a $60,000 bond.

“Nicholas was being sought on two class “B” and two class “C” charges from Henry County, and following the most recent troubles those will be now be compounded. He is definitely considered flight risk,” Onkst said.

Frank Denzler can be contacted at (765) 932-2222 ext. 106 or via e-mail at frank.denzler@rushvillerepublican.com. To add a comment to this story visit our Web site at www.rushvillerepublican.com.